Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $880 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,342 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,632 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,804 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $2,182 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Kangar, Perlis is about 19% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Kangar, Perlis 34% lower, Kuala Lumpur 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 MYR 13.73

$4.81 MYR 19.06

-28.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 MYR 76.0

$27.80 MYR 110

-31.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.13

$4.85 MYR 19.22

-0.62%

Cappuccino

$2.87 MYR 11.39

$3.12 MYR 12.37

-8.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 MYR 3.07

$0.84 MYR 3.32

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.46

$0.50 MYR 1.97

-26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 MYR 13.97

$4.31 MYR 17.09

-18.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 MYR 19.16

$5.97 MYR 23.65

-19.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.49

$1.99 MYR 7.90

-5.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.75

$1.01 MYR 4.01

-5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.71 MYR 6.77

-27.49%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.16

$2.28 MYR 9.05

-9.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.14 MYR 60.0

$14.58 MYR 57.8

3.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 MYR 16.77

$4.76 MYR 18.87

-11.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.71 MYR 38.50

$9.50 MYR 37.66

2.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 MYR 11.29

$2.96 MYR 11.75

-3.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.05

$1.64 MYR 6.49

-6.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 9.91

$2.68 MYR 10.63

-6.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.69

$1.52 MYR 6.04

-5.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.67

$1.23 MYR 4.89

-4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.30

$1.34 MYR 5.32

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MYR 4.09

$1.16 MYR 4.61

-11.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.23

$0.63 MYR 2.48

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 MYR 17.21

$4.31 MYR 17.09

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.44 MYR 85.0

$19.29 MYR 76.5

11.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 MYR 10.79

$3.29 MYR 13.05

-17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 MYR 11.75

$4.22 MYR 16.74

-29.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.73

$0.73 MYR 2.90

-5.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.91 MYR 47.21

$11.82 MYR 46.87

0.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.60

$1.15 MYR 4.56

0.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.05

$1.10 MYR 4.38

-7.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 MYR 23.27

$4.79 MYR 18.99

22.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$0.48 MYR 1.89

4.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K MYR 141.9K

$39.8K MYR 157.9K

-10.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.5K MYR 125.0K

$32.3K MYR 128.0K

-2.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$43.30 MYR 172

$65.0 MYR 258

-33.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.88 MYR 35.19

$11.46 MYR 45.44

-22.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.06 MYR 115

$25.42 MYR 101

14.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.18 MYR 143

$46.84 MYR 186

-22.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 MYR 23.27

$7.85 MYR 31.13

-25.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 MYR 19.88

$5.05 MYR 20.03

-0.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$185 MYR 733

$268 MYR 1,064

-31.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,814 MYR 27.0K

$9,519 MYR 37.7K

-28.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 MYR 240

$59.9 MYR 238

1.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.38 MYR 109

$36.97 MYR 147

-25.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 MYR 288

$86.4 MYR 343

-15.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.2 MYR 199

$81.6 MYR 323

-38.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 MYR 1,519

$561 MYR 2,224

-31.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,081

$369 MYR 1,465

-26.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 MYR 2,517

$1,057 MYR 4,189

-39.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 MYR 1,835

$646 MYR 2,563

-28.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,700 MYR 6,742

$4,233 MYR 16.8K

-59.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,080 MYR 4,283

$1,524 MYR 6,044

-29.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 MYR 7,077

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.47

-8.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Kangar, Perlis versus $561 in Kuala Lumpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis versus $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $267 – making Kangar, Perlis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kangar, Perlis vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $880 in Kangar, Perlis, $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur – roughly 23% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,319 per month in Kangar, Perlis and $1,623 in Kuala Lumpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis and $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $880 in Kangar, Perlis and $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $880, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,082. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kuala Lumpur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $880 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kangar, Perlis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.